Riddles in Hinduism

RIDDLES IN HINDUISM
RIDDLE NO. 15
HOW DID THE BRAHMINS WED AND AHIMSAK GOD
TO A BLOOD THIRSTY GODDESS
Having started drinking and flesh eating the Brahmins did not hesitate to write puranas advocating animal
sacrifices. One such Purana requires a special mention. It is called the Kali Purana. This Purana is written
with the express purpose of propagating the worship of the goddess Kali. In this Purana there is an adhhyaya
called Rudhir Adhhyaya which means the bloody chapter.
I give below a summary of the Rudhir Adhhyaya. In this chapter [The chapter is translated in English by Mr. W. C.
Blaquiere and will be found in the Asiatic Researches.] the God Shiva addresses his three sons Betal, Bhairawar,
and Bhairava in the following terms:
"I will relate you, my sons, the ceremonies and rules to be observed in sacrifices which being duly
attended to are productive of the divine favour.
"The forms laid down in the Vaishnaivi Tantra, are to be followed on all occasions and may be observed
by sacrifices to all Deities."
" Birds, tortoise, allegators, fish, nine species of wild animals, buffaloes, bulls, he-goats, inchneumons,
wild boars, rhinoceroses, antelopes, guanas, reindeer, lions, tigers, men and blood drawn from the offerer's
own body, are looked upon as proper oblations to the Goddess Chandica, the Bhairavas &c."
" It is through sacrifices that princes obtain bliss, heaven, and victory over their enemies."
"The pleasure which the Goddess receives from an oblation of the fish and tortoises is of one month's
duration, and three from that of a crocodile. By the blood of the nine specifies of wild animals the Goddess is
satisfied nine months, and for that space of time continues propitious to the offerer's welfare. The blood of
the wild bull and Guana give pleasure for one year, and that of the antelope and wild boar for twelve years.
The Sarabhas blood satisfies the Goddess for twenty-five years, and buffalo's and rhinoceros's blood for a
hundred, and that of the tiger an equal number.That of the lion, reindeer, and the human species produces
pleasure, which lasts a thousand years. The flesh of these, severally, gives the pleasure for the same
duration of time as their blood. Now attend to the different fruits attending an offering of the flesh of a
rhinoceros or antelope, as also of the fish called Rohita."
"The flesh of the antelope and rhinoceros pleases the Goddess five hundred years and the Rohita fish
and Bardhrinasa give my beloved (i.e. the Goddess Cali) delight for three hundred years."
"A spotless goat, who drinks only twice in twenty-four hours, whose limbs are slender, and who is the
121